Calungsod’s canonization brings immense faith, miracles
CEBU, Nov. 3 (PIA) --- Devotees in Cebu believe the canonization of the second Filipino saint Pedro Calungsod will encourage the youth to renew their faith to the Catholic church as exemplified in the saint’s life.
Saint Pedro Calungsod de Cebu was a sacristan and missionary catechist who suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam in a missionary work in 1672. He was killed at 17.
Parish pastoral council member and devotee Mario Joel Baylosis said the canonization of Saint Pedro Calungsod awakened and encouraged thousands of devotees to come into their parish.
He added that the Saint really serves as a role model to Filipinos, especially to young Pinoys.
The growing number of devotees coming from different places is one of the miracles that he showed to us. It is a miracle to see people who have strong faith in him, Baylosis declared.
“Let us emulate the values and goodness Calungsod had. He has sacrificed everything for his Christian faith,” he added.
In the Oct. 27 episode of “Pagtuki”, the official radio program of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Divina Cantalejo, a Calungsod devotee also shared the miracles she experienced through the intercession of Saint Pedro Calungsod even when he was still a beato.
Cantalejo revealed that she started to be a devotee of Saint Pedro Calungsod when he was still a beato. She believed that her faith in him cured her illness. She also beleived that Pedro Calungsod cured her brother who had a nervous breakdown.
Cantalejo added that the canonization of the new Filipino Saint brought a mass-based support in her barangay.
She said the youth should look up to the life of the Visayan Saint how he died to defend the Catholic Church and to his faith to the Almighty.
“The youth should anchor on the values and principles of Saint Pedro Calungsod. They should devote their time serving the community and the church as what Calungsod did,” Cantalejo said.
She also believed that community services will play a vital rule to spare them from involving in vices.
Oct. 21, was a very special day to all Filipinos especially to young Pinoys, who welcomed the new Filipino saint. A Visayan Saint Pedro Calungsod that was canonized in Rome along with six other saints.
Prior to Saint Pedro Calungsod another Filipino Saint Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila was also declared saint by the Roman Catholic Church.(mbcn/AYS/PIA-CEBU & reports from RAFI)